A Pathetic Performance

Jill Stewart discusses the legislative debacle that is state government in California.

And it's worth noting that Governor Schwarzenegger has managed now to alienate both sides of the political aisle. Since the special election, he's focused his charm offensive on the Democrats; apparently, no one has reminded him that the Democrats want him to lose. The problem for him is that he's increasingly irritating the Republicans to the point that even they won't care much if he does.

The Governor's enormous bond initiative (never popular among conservatives) will now have to appear on the November ballot -- the one where he's running for reelection -- if at all. There's no way this is good news for Schwarzenegger. It means that, if it's larded up then as it was now, he's got to persuade Republicans to come to the polls and vote "yes" for him, even if they're voting "no" on the bond -- all while hoping that Democrats won't take out their opposition to him by opposing his bond measure.

What a mess, for him and for us all.